Dancer defends Rolly Polly’ performance

flashback: Fayth Seaton, right, performs with Grenadian soca artiste Mr Kill@ (Hollice Mapp) during the semi-finals of the Play Whe International Soca Monarch at the Arima Velodrome last Sunday.
—Photo: ROBERT TAYLOR

Mark Fraser

Since her performance with Mr Kill@ at last Sunday’s International Soca Monarch semi-finals, Fayth Seaton has been on the receiving end of unkind comments by people who questioned her decision to dance with the Grenadian artiste.

What most people don’t know is that Seaton’s weight — more in the 300-pound range than 600 pounds, as social media followers have purported— has nothing to do with “letting herself go” but rather a medical condition.

“The doctor said it was hyperthyroidism (often referred to as an overactive thyroid, in which the thyroid gland produces and secretes excessive amounts of thyroid hormones), Seaton told the Express yesterday.

“I used to be 150 pounds and after I had my son, I just started gaining weight.”

The 20-year-old from Laventille said her weight gain cost her some friends who no longer wanted to be seen with her.

She stopped partying and going out because of her size and became deeply depressed.

It was her son, she said, who motivated her to love herself. Mr Kill@’s “Rolly Polly” also proved to be further empowering.

“The first time I heard it I was a contestant in the Miss Queen Size pageant. I immediately got what he was trying to do with the song —and that is to make big women like me feel good about ourselves. I feel good when I hear it,” she said.

Seaton declared: “I really love myself. Whether people like me or not I am sexy, I am adorable and I am pretty.”

At last Sunday’s performance, Seaton stood out as being the only plus-size woman that Mr Kill@ has yet to lift — with the artiste promising that once he makes it to the finals, he would try at lifting her again.

A dancer with the West Laventille Cultural Movement, Seaton said she always wanted to dance to the song.

“Ever since it came out I wanted to do it. So I am doing what I want to do. I heard the negative comments but no matter what people say I am always in style. I design my own clothes and have my seamstress make it, and my family supports me 100 per cent,” she said.

Seaton said Mr Kill@ is a pleasure to work with since he always has something positive to say.

“With him the vibe is a happy one, and he really performs that song,” she said.

Earlier this week, Seaton joined a gym to get back into shape but she believes that plus-size women need to embrace who they are and their size.